Butterfly Coloring Pages (Free PDF Printables)

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By: Papaya Ink Team · Last updated: October 14, 2026

Butterflies are the perfect subject for a quiet hour with a set of pencils: symmetrical wings, cell-by-cell patterns and a garden built around them. This collection of free printable butterfly coloring pages leans toward realistic line art for adults – swallowtails and monarchs on coneflowers, sunflowers and morning glories, a luna moth among bellflowers, a full monarch life cycle with caterpillar and chrysalis – with a handful of gentler scenes where a kitten or a puppy meets its first butterfly. The lines are clean and the shapes stay open, so the pages also suit teens and patient younger colorists.

The wings are where the fun is. Colored pencils let you grade each cell from a deep border to a pale center; fine markers give the classic stained-glass look; a light watercolor wash on heavier paper makes the flowers glow behind the insect. Try a monarch in orange and black, a swallowtail in yellow with blue tail spots, or ignore nature entirely and paint every wing a different color. Print on plain paper for everyday relaxation, or on cardstock if you plan to frame the finished sheet.

Some pages here come with a color sample: the top half shows the butterfly fully painted in its true colors, the bottom half is the same scene in clean line art, with a dotted line between them for cutting. Use the Show me buttons above the grid to see only the black-and-white pages, only the ones with a color sample, or everything at once. One honest note: on a black-and-white printer the sample comes out gray, so those pages are best printed in color.

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Butterfly Coloring Pages - Butterfly Coloring Page: Swallowtail on a Coneflower with a Ladybug (Detailed) — Butterfly Coloring Page: Swallowtail on a Coneflower with a Ladybug (Detailed)

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Butterfly and Bee Coloring Page: Swallowtail Sharing a Sunflower (Detailed) — Butterfly and Bee Coloring Page: Swallowtail Sharing a Sunflower (Detailed)

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Coloring Page: Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Adult on Milkweed — Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Coloring Page: Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Adult on Milkweed

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Butterfly and Hummingbird Coloring Page: Swallowtail on Morning Glory Vines (Detailed) — Butterfly and Hummingbird Coloring Page: Swallowtail on Morning Glory Vines (Detailed)

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Tiger Swallowtail Coloring Page: Hibiscus Bloom with a Tree Frog (Detailed) — Tiger Swallowtail Coloring Page: Hibiscus Bloom with a Tree Frog (Detailed)

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Butterfly Coloring Page: Water Lily Pond with a Dragonfly — Butterfly Coloring Page: Water Lily Pond with a Dragonfly

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Monarch Butterfly Coloring Page: Flowering Branch with a Snail — Monarch Butterfly Coloring Page: Flowering Branch with a Snail

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Butterfly and Grasshopper Coloring Page: Wildflower Stem — Butterfly and Grasshopper Coloring Page: Wildflower Stem

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Butterfly Coloring Page: Blackberry Branch with Ladybug and Beetles (Detailed) — Butterfly Coloring Page: Blackberry Branch with Ladybug and Beetles (Detailed)

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Luna Moth Coloring Page: Moon and Stars Wings, Bellflowers and Fireflies (Detailed) — Luna Moth Coloring Page: Moon and Stars Wings, Bellflowers and Fireflies (Detailed)

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Moth Coloring Page: Eyespot Wings and a Spider on Its Web — Moth Coloring Page: Eyespot Wings and a Spider on Its Web

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Butterfly and Turtle Coloring Page: Resting on the Shell — Butterfly and Turtle Coloring Page: Resting on the Shell

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Raccoon and Butterfly Coloring Page: Hollow Log with Mushrooms — Raccoon and Butterfly Coloring Page: Hollow Log with Mushrooms

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Kitten and Butterfly Coloring Page: Butterfly Landing on a Tail in the Clover — Kitten and Butterfly Coloring Page: Butterfly Landing on a Tail in the Clover

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Kitten and Butterfly Coloring Page: Reaching Up from a Flower Basket — Kitten and Butterfly Coloring Page: Reaching Up from a Flower Basket

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Kitten and Butterfly Coloring Page: Hiding Under a Leaf Umbrella — Kitten and Butterfly Coloring Page: Hiding Under a Leaf Umbrella

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Kitten and Butterfly Coloring Page: Dandelion Seeds Turning into Butterflies — Kitten and Butterfly Coloring Page: Dandelion Seeds Turning into Butterflies

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Puppy and Butterfly Coloring Page: Napping Among the Daisies — Puppy and Butterfly Coloring Page: Napping Among the Daisies

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Puppy and Butterfly Coloring Page: Monarch on Milkweed — Puppy and Butterfly Coloring Page: Monarch on Milkweed

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Puppy and Butterfly Coloring Page: Butterfly Landing on a Nose, Lavender Sprigs — Puppy and Butterfly Coloring Page: Butterfly Landing on a Nose, Lavender Sprigs

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Electric blue against white water: a blue morpho beside a rainforest waterfall, pink orchids crowding the left edge, a heliconia on the right. Save the blue for last and lay it down in two or three layers so the wing holds the page. — Electric blue against white water: a blue morpho beside a rainforest waterfall, pink orchids crowding the left edge, a heliconia on the right. Save the blue for last and lay it down in two or three layers so the wing holds the page.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Orange blossom, ripe fruit and a sliver of sea: an emerald swallowtail resting in a Mediterranean grove. The green band across its wings is metallic in life, so leave a thin pale streak along each band before you shade it. — Orange blossom, ripe fruit and a sliver of sea: an emerald swallowtail resting in a Mediterranean grove. The green band across its wings is metallic in life, so leave a thin pale streak along each band before you shade it.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Two monarchs in a late-summer meadow, one feeding on pink milkweed up close, one riding the warm air over the goldenrod toward the hills. Orange, black and a row of crisp white dots along the wing edges - satisfying to get exactly right. — Two monarchs in a late-summer meadow, one feeding on pink milkweed up close, one riding the warm air over the goldenrod toward the hills. Orange, black and a row of crisp white dots along the wing edges – satisfying to get exactly right.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Four eyespots, meant to startle a bird, stare out from a European peacock sunning on purple asters by an old stone wall. Go dark blue and black in their centers and keep the rust-red field around them flat. Rose hips on the right. Detailed. — Four eyespots, meant to startle a bird, stare out from a European peacock sunning on purple asters by an old stone wall. Go dark blue and black in their centers and keep the rust-red field around them flat. Rose hips on the right. Detailed.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - High above a tropical cove, a Ulysses swallowtail hovers between two red hibiscus blooms. Its wings split cleanly into bright blue and black, which makes this one of the quicker pages to finish - spend the time you save on the water below. — High above a tropical cove, a Ulysses swallowtail hovers between two red hibiscus blooms. Its wings split cleanly into bright blue and black, which makes this one of the quicker pages to finish – spend the time you save on the water below.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Lime and leaf green, cell by cell: that is the malachite, resting on a mossy fig trunk with one fig cut open to show its seeds. Alternate two greens through the wing windows instead of filling them with one marker, and the pattern comes alive. — Lime and leaf green, cell by cell: that is the malachite, resting on a mossy fig trunk with one fig cut open to show its seeds. Alternate two greens through the wing windows instead of filling them with one marker, and the pattern comes alive.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - The glasswing has almost no color of its own. Its wing panes are transparent, edged in amber and tipped with white, so color what shows through them: begonia leaves, wet stones, the little stream. A quiet, unusual page. — The glasswing has almost no color of its own. Its wing panes are transparent, edged in amber and tipped with white, so color what shows through them: begonia leaves, wet stones, the little stream. A quiet, unusual page.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - A boulder in a bamboo stream, a footbridge in the distance, and a blue clipper warming itself on the rock. Wings banded sky blue, black and white, like a flag - keep the bands crisp, give the pebbles and the moss all the softness. — A boulder in a bamboo stream, a footbridge in the distance, and a blue clipper warming itself on the rock. Wings banded sky blue, black and white, like a flag – keep the bands crisp, give the pebbles and the moss all the softness.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Velvet brown and scarlet: a scarlet peacock perched among salvia spikes on a garden path, with yellow daisies and a patch of verbena behind. The red bands follow the wing veins, so trace them lightly first and the stripes will land in the right place. — Velvet brown and scarlet: a scarlet peacock perched among salvia spikes on a garden path, with yellow daisies and a patch of verbena behind. The red bands follow the wing veins, so trace them lightly first and the stripes will land in the right place.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - The strangest bloom in the garden, a blue passionflower with its fringe of purple filaments, has a leopard lacewing for company. Orange wings edged in black lace; the flower deserves at least three shades of violet and some patience for the fringe. — The strangest bloom in the garden, a blue passionflower with its fringe of purple filaments, has a leopard lacewing for company. Orange wings edged in black lace; the flower deserves at least three shades of violet and some patience for the fringe.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - The paper kite, also called the rice paper butterfly, is cream and black, with wings that look drawn in ink. Frangipani below it, a turquoise bay behind. Barely shade the pale wing cells, almost leaving them white - this page is about the dark pattern. — The paper kite, also called the rice paper butterfly, is cream and black, with wings that look drawn in ink. Frangipani below it, a turquoise bay behind. Barely shade the pale wing cells, almost leaving them white – this page is about the dark pattern.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Wings open, the orange oakleaf is deep blue and violet with an orange band; wings closed, it is a dead leaf, which is the whole joke of this species. Here it rests among red hibiscus beside mossy garden steps and a trickle of water. Detailed. — Wings open, the orange oakleaf is deep blue and violet with an orange band; wings closed, it is a dead leaf, which is the whole joke of this species. Here it rests among red hibiscus beside mossy garden steps and a trickle of water. Detailed.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Oak leaves, acorns and a purple emperor feeding on tree sap. The purple sheen on its wings shows from one angle only, so color one wing in violet and the other in warm brown - that is how it really looks in the woods. — Oak leaves, acorns and a purple emperor feeding on tree sap. The purple sheen on its wings shows from one angle only, so color one wing in violet and the other in warm brown – that is how it really looks in the woods.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - After rain: a great eggfly on a broad wet leaf, red hibiscus on one side, a sunny coastline on the other. Each wing carries one white patch ringed in violet-blue - leave the patches pure white, color only the halo, then the water drops. — After rain: a great eggfly on a broad wet leaf, red hibiscus on one side, a sunny coastline on the other. Each wing carries one white patch ringed in violet-blue – leave the patches pure white, color only the halo, then the water drops.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - A small butterfly in a wide landscape: a common blue on a head of red clover, a second one over the chalk stream, yellow trefoil at the right. Give the meadow its hundred greens and keep the wings a single clean sky blue. — A small butterfly in a wide landscape: a common blue on a head of red clover, a second one over the chalk stream, yellow trefoil at the right. Give the meadow its hundred greens and keep the wings a single clean sky blue.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Early spring by a brook: an orange-tip among cuckoo flowers, buttercups and violets. Only the male wears the orange tips, and they are the one strong color on a white butterfly - the rest is spring pastels and fresh green. — Early spring by a brook: an orange-tip among cuckoo flowers, buttercups and violets. Only the male wears the orange tips, and they are the one strong color on a white butterfly – the rest is spring pastels and fresh green.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Passion vine along a terrace, bougainvillea, mountains past the railing, and two zebra longwings, one on a leaf and one in the air. Long narrow wings, black with yellow stripes. The curling tendrils are a good warm-up before you go near the butterflies. — Passion vine along a terrace, bougainvillea, mountains past the railing, and two zebra longwings, one on a leaf and one in the air. Long narrow wings, black with yellow stripes. The curling tendrils are a good warm-up before you go near the butterflies.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Yellow on yellow on yellow. An orange-barred sulphur among cassia blossoms in front of red desert rocks, and the test is finding enough tones to tell the butterfly from the flowers: lemon for the wings, egg yolk for the petals, orange across the bars. — Yellow on yellow on yellow. An orange-barred sulphur among cassia blossoms in front of red desert rocks, and the test is finding enough tones to tell the butterfly from the flowers: lemon for the wings, egg yolk for the petals, orange across the bars.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Black, orange-red and a few white spots: three colors and the red admiral is done. Then the huge dahlia it sits on asks for a dozen shades of red, and the garden behind adds a brick arch and a turquoise urn. Detailed. — Black, orange-red and a few white spots: three colors and the red admiral is done. Then the huge dahlia it sits on asks for a dozen shades of red, and the garden behind adds a brick arch and a turquoise urn. Detailed.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - The largest butterfly in Australia, a Cairns birdwing, spreads green and black wings over ixora clusters and purple orchids, with a rainforest river behind. The body is yellow. Let the wings stay flat and bright and build all the depth in the jungle behind them. — The largest butterfly in Australia, a Cairns birdwing, spreads green and black wings over ixora clusters and purple orchids, with a rainforest river behind. The body is yellow. Let the wings stay flat and bright and build all the depth in the jungle behind them.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Some females of the eastern tiger swallowtail skip the yellow and come out almost black, so pick your version: classic yellow with black tiger stripes or the dark form. Below it, bearded irises, cattails and a willow trailing into a still pond. — Some females of the eastern tiger swallowtail skip the yellow and come out almost black, so pick your version: classic yellow with black tiger stripes or the dark form. Below it, bearded irises, cattails and a willow trailing into a still pond.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Gardeners who grow dill know this one. The black swallowtail hangs over a flat head of Queen Anne's lace, a cottage and raised bed behind. Yellow spots in neat lines, a wash of blue on the hindwings, an orange eyespot by each tail. — Gardeners who grow dill know this one. The black swallowtail hangs over a flat head of Queen Anne's lace, a cottage and raised bed behind. Yellow spots in neat lines, a wash of blue on the hindwings, an orange eyespot by each tail.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - No pawpaw, no zebra swallowtail: its caterpillars eat nothing else. So the tree is here too, fruit hanging over a forest creek, and the butterfly with long sword-shaped tails. Black and white stripes, plus two small red spots low on the hindwings. — No pawpaw, no zebra swallowtail: its caterpillars eat nothing else. So the tree is here too, fruit hanging over a forest creek, and the butterfly with long sword-shaped tails. Black and white stripes, plus two small red spots low on the hindwings.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Disguise is the family trade: young giant swallowtails pass for bird droppings on citrus leaves. The adult, the biggest butterfly in North America, visits a lemon tree on a trellis. Chocolate brown wings crossed by a yellow band, lemons in two or three yellows. Detailed. — Disguise is the family trade: young giant swallowtails pass for bird droppings on citrus leaves. The adult, the biggest butterfly in North America, visits a lemon tree on a trellis. Chocolate brown wings crossed by a yellow band, lemons in two or three yellows. Detailed.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - At the foot of a small forest waterfall, a spicebush swallowtail rests on flowering shrubs. Dark wings, a row of pale spots along each edge and a cloud of blue-green over the hindwings - try blending turquoise into gray there. — At the foot of a small forest waterfall, a spicebush swallowtail rests on flowering shrubs. Dark wings, a row of pale spots along each edge and a cloud of blue-green over the hindwings – try blending turquoise into gray there.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Six round eyespots, each ringed like a target, make the buckeye easy to recognize. Color the rings in cream, orange and violet over a warm brown wing, and add orange bars near the tips. Gravel path, split-rail fence, small flowers. — Six round eyespots, each ringed like a target, make the buckeye easy to recognize. Color the rings in cream, orange and violet over a warm brown wing, and add orange bars near the tips. Gravel path, split-rail fence, small flowers.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Lotus flowers open over flat lily pads, and a blue pansy from southern Asia sits on a reed stem in the middle of the pond. The male's hindwings are deep blue with an orange-ringed eyespot, the forewings black. Calm water, wide shapes. — Lotus flowers open over flat lily pads, and a blue pansy from southern Asia sits on a reed stem in the middle of the pond. The male's hindwings are deep blue with an orange-ringed eyespot, the forewings black. Calm water, wide shapes.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Warm colors only: a lemon pansy, buttery yellow with a line of eyespots, on a bed of ruffled marigolds. Stone steps and an old well finish the garden. Pale yellow for the wings, orange and rust for the flowers, gray for the stone. — Warm colors only: a lemon pansy, buttery yellow with a line of eyespots, on a bed of ruffled marigolds. Stone steps and an old well finish the garden. Pale yellow for the wings, orange and rust for the flowers, gray for the stone.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Long, narrow wings built for slow, floating flight. The Doris longwing comes in several color forms; a red forewing patch with blue or green rays on the hindwing is a good start. A twisting vine leads down to a jungle pool. — Long, narrow wings built for slow, floating flight. The Doris longwing comes in several color forms; a red forewing patch with blue or green rays on the hindwing is a good start. A twisting vine leads down to a jungle pool.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Plain wings, bright orange, almost no pattern: the Julia flies fast from Florida to Brazil and does not waste time on decoration. Big open shapes up top, a lush rainforest of ginger and ferns below. A relaxed page to start with. — Plain wings, bright orange, almost no pattern: the Julia flies fast from Florida to Brazil and does not waste time on decoration. Big open shapes up top, a lush rainforest of ginger and ferns below. A relaxed page to start with.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Bright orange above, silver-spotted below: a Gulf fritillary sipping from a passionflower, the same vine its caterpillars eat. Ripening fruit hangs over a garden fence. A little silver gel pen on the round spots borrows the shine of the underside. — Bright orange above, silver-spotted below: a Gulf fritillary sipping from a passionflower, the same vine its caterpillars eat. Ripening fruit hangs over a garden fence. A little silver gel pen on the round spots borrows the shine of the underside.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Midsummer in a North American meadow, and the great spangled fritillary has found its favorite flower - a purple thistle. Orange wings with black zigzags and dots, tall grasses, a river and a line of hills. Plenty of small cells to fill. — Midsummer in a North American meadow, and the great spangled fritillary has found its favorite flower – a purple thistle. Orange wings with black zigzags and dots, tall grasses, a river and a line of hills. Plenty of small cells to fill.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Found on every continent except Antarctica and South America, the painted lady may be the most widespread butterfly on Earth. Here it lands on a hollyhock beside an arched wooden door and a cobbled path. Salmon orange, black and white wing tips. Detailed. — Found on every continent except Antarctica and South America, the painted lady may be the most widespread butterfly on Earth. Here it lands on a hollyhock beside an arched wooden door and a cobbled path. Salmon orange, black and white wing tips. Detailed.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Old wooden gate, stone wall, bramble and a big sun-warmed rock. The small tortoiseshell is orange with black and yellow blocks and blue crescents all along the edge - those crescents are what makes it look finished, so don't skip them. — Old wooden gate, stone wall, bramble and a big sun-warmed rock. The small tortoiseshell is orange with black and yellow blocks and blue crescents all along the edge – those crescents are what makes it look finished, so don't skip them.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - It looks like a white, but the marbled white belongs with the browns. Two of them in a hay meadow, one on a scabious flower and one in flight. Black and white checkerboard wings, ideal for shading in graphite alone. — It looks like a white, but the marbled white belongs with the browns. Two of them in a hay meadow, one on a scabious flower and one in flight. Black and white checkerboard wings, ideal for shading in graphite alone.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Rock flowers, pines, a range of peaks, and a white Apollo resting on an alpine slope. Its only bright color is red: the round eyespots on the hindwings, each ringed in black. Keep everything else cool - blues, grays, pale greens. — Rock flowers, pines, a range of peaks, and a white Apollo resting on an alpine slope. Its only bright color is red: the round eyespots on the hindwings, each ringed in black. Keep everything else cool – blues, grays, pale greens.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Raindrops still on the leaves, a magnolia in full bloom, and a tailed jay with dozens of small cells on black wings. In life those cells are bright apple green. Allow time for this one: lots of little shapes. Detailed. — Raindrops still on the leaves, a magnolia in full bloom, and a tailed jay with dozens of small cells on black wings. In life those cells are bright apple green. Allow time for this one: lots of little shapes. Detailed.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Butterflies drink too. A common jay stands at the edge of a jungle stream sipping minerals from the wet stones, as swallowtails often do. A translucent blue-green band runs through its black wings; the rocks and ripples fill the rest. — Butterflies drink too. A common jay stands at the edge of a jungle stream sipping minerals from the wet stones, as swallowtails often do. A translucent blue-green band runs through its black wings; the rocks and ripples fill the rest.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - The national butterfly of Malaysia, named after a nineteenth-century rajah of Sarawak. Rajah Brooke's birdwing has black wings crossed by green bands shaped like teeth, and a red head. Orchids, bamboo and a waterfall around it. — The national butterfly of Malaysia, named after a nineteenth-century rajah of Sarawak. Rajah Brooke's birdwing has black wings crossed by green bands shaped like teeth, and a red head. Orchids, bamboo and a waterfall around it.

Butterfly Coloring Pages - Once feared lost from Florida, the atala came back thanks to gardeners planting coontie, the native cycad its caterpillars depend on. Seen from the side among palm-like leaves: black wings, a few iridescent blue spots, and a bright orange-red body. — Once feared lost from Florida, the atala came back thanks to gardeners planting coontie, the native cycad its caterpillars depend on. Seen from the side among palm-like leaves: black wings, a few iridescent blue spots, and a bright orange-red body.

8 Ways to Use Your Finished Butterfly Pages

Frame the coneflower swallowtail: color it on cardstock, trim the white border and drop it into an 8×10 frame – the symmetrical wings read like a botanical print.
Symmetry practice: color the left wing of the sunflower swallowtail first, then match it cell by cell on the right – a calm exercise in control that ends with a very polished sheet.
Stained-glass wings: outline each wing cell with a black marker, fill with bright markers, then run a thin layer of vegetable oil over the back of the page to make it translucent and tape it to a window.
Life cycle wall chart: color the monarch page, cut out the caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly, and mount them on a strip of card in order – a quick science poster for a classroom or a fridge.
Greeting cards: the kitten in the flower basket and the puppy with the butterfly on its nose are made for a folded card – glue the finished picture to the front and write your message inside.
Night garden study: color the luna moth page in nothing but blues, greens and silver gel pen for the stars – one palette, one mood.
Bookmarks: the morning glory vine and the blackberry branch cut nicely into tall strips – laminate or cover with clear tape and punch a hole for ribbon.
A pond and a meadow: keep the water lily sheet and the wildflower grasshopper sheet as a matched pair in one style – watercolor, pencil or marker – and hang them side by side.